Job 35 9

Job 35:9 kjv

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

Job 35:9 nkjv

"Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.

Job 35:9 niv

"People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.

Job 35:9 esv

"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.

Job 35:9 nlt

"People cry out when they are oppressed.
They groan beneath the power of the mighty.

Job 35 verses

Job 35 9 Meaning

Job 35:9 speaks of people suffering intensely under severe oppression and tyranny. They raise a loud cry for help due to the immense power and force exerted by their mighty oppressors. Elihu, the speaker, introduces this reality of human suffering to highlight a subsequent theological point: that even amidst such distress, people often cry out only from the pain of their situation rather than with a heart genuinely seeking God, their Maker, for understanding or spiritual solace.

Job 35 9 Context

Job 35 is part of Elihu’s discourse, which begins in chapter 32. Elihu positions himself as younger, more insightful, and speaking on God's behalf to correct Job’s perceived self-righteousness and the inadequate arguments of Job's three friends. Throughout his speeches, Elihu defends God’s justice and sovereignty, particularly in the context of human suffering. In chapter 35, Elihu addresses Job directly, challenging Job's implied accusation that God does not reward righteousness or punish evil immediately. Verse 9 specifically describes the universal human experience of being oppressed. This sets the stage for Elihu’s critique in the following verses (35:10-13), where he suggests that people's cries of distress are often born out of their suffering, not from a desire to seek God's presence or understand His ways. Thus, for Elihu, the lack of a perceived divine response to their cries is not due to God’s indifference or injustice, but rather to the deficient nature of the petitioners' prayers, which focus on their pain rather than on their Maker.

Job 35 9 Word analysis

• By reason of the multitude: Implies an overwhelming, widespread occurrence.

  • multitude (רֹב - rov): Abundance, multitude, greatness. Suggests not just individual instances, but a large scale or great intensity of something, here, oppression. The problem is immense and pervasive.

• of oppressions: Refers to acts of unjust domination and exploitation.

  • oppressions (עֲשֻׁקִים - 'ashuqeem): Plural of 'osheq, derived from the verb 'ashaq (to oppress, extort, defraud, commit violence). It denotes cruel and unjust treatment, taking advantage of others, and exerting unlawful power. It highlights suffering that comes from the active wrong-doing of others.

• they cry out: A loud, urgent vocalization for help.

  • cry out (יִצְעָקוּ - yits'aqu): From the verb tsa'aq (to cry aloud, shout, wail, lament). This word signifies a piercing cry of distress, often associated with a plea for help or rescue. It's an instinctive human response to severe pain or threat, indicating a desperate situation, similar to the cry of Israel in Egypt (Exod 2:23).

• they cry for help: Emphasizes the purpose of their vocalization – seeking assistance. This reiterates the nature of the cry.

  • cry for help (יְשַׁוֵּעוּ - yeshavve'u): From the verb shava'(to cry out for help, appeal). While tsa'aq is a more general loud cry, shava' specifically denotes a plea or an appeal to a higher authority, often implying a sense of injustice and a search for vindication or intervention. It carries a legal or formal tone of complaint, though here used more broadly.

• because of the arm: "Arm" here is a metaphor for strength, power, and authority.

  • arm (זְרוֹעַ - z'ro'a): Literally 'arm' or 'forearm'. Metaphorically, it represents strength, power, might, or authority. In biblical Hebrew, God's arm often symbolizes His powerful actions (Exod 6:6; Psa 44:3), while here, it refers to the imposing, often brutal, power of human oppressors.

• of the mighty: Refers to those who possess great strength and authority, often used to describe kings, rulers, or powerful individuals who abuse their position.

  • mighty (כַּבִּיר - kabbiyr): Powerful, mighty, great. It can be applied to God's might (Job 34:17) or to human power. In this context, it refers to human potentates, rulers, or anyone possessing great power who exercises it in an oppressive manner. Their "might" enables the "oppressions."

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "multitude of oppressions": Highlights the systemic and overwhelming nature of suffering experienced by many, not just isolated incidents. This implies a context where injustice is widespread and severe.
  • "cry out; they cry for help": The repetition and distinct Hebrew terms emphasize the urgency and depth of the people's distress, moving from a general cry of anguish (tsa'aq) to a specific plea for deliverance (shava'). It speaks to an instinctual reaching out in pain.
  • "arm of the mighty": This phrase encapsulates the source of the suffering: the forceful, dominating power of human oppressors. It depicts those who have power wielding it in an abusive and unjust manner, causing profound suffering among the populace. This imagery resonates with historical contexts where rulers or powerful individuals exploited the vulnerable.

Job 35 9 Bonus section

Elihu's perspective in Job 35 offers a corrective to two extremes: the friends' insistence that all suffering is punishment for specific sin, and Job's perceived challenge to God's justice. Elihu suggests that God is great and majestic, beyond human understanding, and His actions should not be judged by human expectations of immediate intervention. He implies a distinction between superficial cries prompted solely by distress and deep-seated prayers born of a desire to know God's ways. However, Elihu's analysis is still limited; he doesn't fully account for suffering as a test, for refining, or for God's glory, themes that only God's speech in Job 38-41 truly addresses. The historical and cultural context for this verse would involve ancient Near Eastern societies where kings and powerful figures often held absolute sway, with little legal recourse for the common people against their abuses, leading to profound suffering and desperation. The "arm of the mighty" reflects the tangible and often violent enforcement of their will.

Job 35 9 Commentary

Job 35:9 vividly describes the widespread human experience of suffering under severe oppression. People are depicted crying out due to the sheer volume and harshness of the injustices inflicted upon them, stemming directly from the potent and often tyrannical force of powerful individuals or authorities. This verse serves as a crucial setup for Elihu’s subsequent theological argument. While acknowledging the legitimacy of the oppressed's cries, Elihu's nuanced point (developed in 35:10-13) is that such cries, though outwardly directed towards heaven, are often motivated purely by physical pain or distress rather than by a true, humble seeking of God for deeper spiritual understanding or a desire to connect with their Creator. He implies that because their focus is primarily on relief from their tormentors rather than on knowing God, these cries may not elicit a divine response in the way they expect, and their suffering doesn't necessarily indicate God's injustice. This perspective, though partially flawed (as God does hear sincere cries of distress, as demonstrated elsewhere in Scripture), offers a corrective to a purely transactional view of prayer or a self-centered complaint against God's apparent silence. Elihu is essentially stating that God is not obliged to respond when the cry is devoid of genuine spiritual seeking, aiming to elevate the purpose of prayer beyond mere crisis management to a quest for knowing the Divine.